Dhaka, June 25 -- The International Crimes Tribunal-1(ICT-1) has appointed state defence counsels for former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal in the case concerning crimes against humanity during the July Uprising.

The tribunal has also scheduled the next hearing for charge framing on July 1. On Tuesday, June 24, a three-member tribunal bench headed by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Majumder passed the order. During the proceedings, Prosecutor Gazi MH Tamim informed the tribunal that public notices had been published in two national newspapers summoning Sheikh Hasina and Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal. Despite these summons, they failed to appear before the court.

Considering the situation, the tribunal dec...